Apparatus for condensing steam.



PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

0. KOLB. APPARATUS FOR GONDENSING STEAM.

APBLIOATIQN FILED JAN. 29, 1906.

:UNTTED STATES PATENT UFFIGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1908,

Application filed January 29, 1906. Serial No. 298,457.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO KOLB, engineer, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Karlsruhe, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing Steam by Injection,

of which the following is a specification.

When injection-condensers with water and air piston-pumps are used to condense the exhaust-steam of steam-turbines, for example, they require to be separately driven and occupy a large amount of space. In the arrangement according to this invention these piston-pumps are replaced by a centrifugal condenser coupled to or mounted on the shaft of the turbine or the like, this centrifugal condenser acting both as an air-pump and a condenser proper.

The accompanying drawings illustrate ar rangiements according to this invention as app ed to a turbine.

igures 1 and 2 are transverse sections through the center line of a condenser and a cold-water um combined. Fig. 3 is a section on the line .A of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.- 4

is a transverse section of a similar condenser attached to the exhaust side of a steam-turgine, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line B B of The condenser according to this invention consists, essentially, of a centrifugal pump for the supply of the required condensing water and of a water -guiding device encircling the external periphery of the vane-wheel and consisting of two guiding-rings, the said guiding device serving also for the admission of the exhaust-stean1 to be condensed.

The condenser comprises a spiral casing inclosing the water-guiding apparatus and serving for the reception and evacuation of the condensed steam and water andair.

The 0 eration of this condenser is as fol- "lows: T e vane-wheel a or a, which may be mounted on a special shaft, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or directly on the shaft of the turbine, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, draws the cold water through a suctionipe c or c, attached to the condenser. This water as it passes through the vanes of the turbine, acquires such an acceleration that it passes at a high speed in the form of jets between the rings d or d, forming the guiding apparatus .ing with said inlet, a spira ing said vane and adapted to receive and conthat surrounds the vane-Wheel, and is dis-- charged into the spiral casing e, e, or e. The

. action of the jets causes the exhaust-steam in the arrangement shownin Figs. 1, 2, and3 to be drawn by the branch f into and distribute; over two annular chambers g. In another arrangement (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) the exhaust-steam is drawn into an annular cham" ber formed between the cover h and the cas ing t of the turbine. Circular openin s k or slits k or nozzle-shaped chambers Z or connect the annular chamber or chambers with the rin -jet, and the condensed steam, water, an air are delivered into the aforesaid spiral casin e or a, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, or e ,Fi s. 4 and 5. e exhaust-steam is so intimate y mixed with the condensation-water that the steam is quickly and entirely "condensed; The condensed steam, water, and air are do. livered into the s iral casing e, e, or e and led away from t e condenser. In this arrangement it is not necessary to fill the suctionipe of the centrifugal puin with water for t e purpose of starting it, steam, whic is at first not condensed, escapes through'the spiral casing e, e, or 6 into the atmosphere and creates a vacuum in the so tion-pipe of the centrifugal pump, which will-- in consequence be filled with water, so that the condensation will thennroceed without difficulty.

1.' In a centrifugal condenser, a rotary vane-wheel provided with a water-inlet and with peripheral water-outlets, and waterguiding means com rising two concentric steam-openings.

2. In combination with a steam-turbine, a vane-wheel fined on the shaft thereof, said vane-wheel having a water-inlet and peripheral discharge-openings communicating with said inlet, a;water-supply pipe communicatcasing surroundvey away the water issuing from said dis-- charge-openings, watergulding rings arranged between said vane and said casing in parallel planes and to permit the water to pass uninterrupted between them, said rings and In testimony whereof I have signed my casing also arranged to 1Erovide annular opennar'ne to this specification in the presence of ings between the perip eries of the rings and two subscribing Witnesses.

the contiguous partspf the casing, and 3 cas- OTTO KOLB, 5 ing forming stea m chambers communicating Witnesses:

with said annular openings and with the ex- ROBERT GUNDEL,

haust of the turbine; GEORG LINSING. 

